Era: Starting from the local police station
Chapter 57: Trucks
After a while, Guo Yong came over with a piece of paper: "Deputy Director Jiang, these are the missing items we have so far."
Jiang Zhenghua took the papers, glanced at them briefly, and said to Yang Shaogang, "Master Yang, there's a pile of parts over there. Could you please take a look and see if there are any brake systems among them?"
Yang Shaogang nodded in agreement: "No problem."
Guo Yong said, "Then let's start taking it apart."
Jiang Zhenghua nodded: "If you need anything, just ask Officer Li for help."
Xiao Li replied, "I will cooperate well with Comrade Guo and his team."
Jiang Zhenghua and Yang Shaogang walked towards the area where the parts were piled up: "Master Yang, are you familiar with Gu Youliang?"
Yang Shaogang sighed, "We're quite familiar with each other. We're both from the second transportation team, and he's even my captain. He wasn't scheduled for a shift last night, so I was temporarily assigned to work short shifts at the factory. When I heard about his accident this morning, I couldn't quite believe it."
Jiang Zhenghua patted his pocket as he asked, "Oh, do you know who was originally supposed to be the driver?"
Yang Shaogang replied, "It was Zhang Hegui from the first team. I just don't know why he was replaced at the last minute. I even chatted with him for a few minutes when we were loading goods at the workshop entrance."
Jiang Zhenghua paused in his act of picking up a cigarette: "Around what time was it? Did he say he wasn't feeling well?"
Yang Shaogang shook his head: "It was around three in the morning. He was in good spirits at the time and even told me that he dozed off for a while in the duty room while waiting."
He paused briefly, then added, "When he asked his apprentice and learned that his water cup hadn't been brought over, he yelled at him with great force. What? Was he feeling unwell, which is why he went to find the team leader?"
Jiang Zhenghua offered him a cigarette: "I'm not sure yet, I'm just guessing. Is he on good terms with your captain?"
Yang Shaogang took the cigarette and said, "They're from the same hometown, and they're so close they're practically inseparable. If anything happens, they'll cover for each other. Captain Gu is a very good person; he often volunteers to switch shifts with the night shift workers and help them with the work at night, so everyone respects him and likes to ask him for help."
As they spoke, the two arrived at a relatively flat area.
Jiang Zhenghua took a puff of his cigarette and asked, puzzled, "Why does Gu Youliang often switch night shifts with other people? Isn't the night shift too exhausting?"
Upon hearing this, Jin Hong, Cheng Mingli, and Zhang Chongguang, who were inspecting the parts, immediately straightened up and looked at Yang Shaogang.
Yang Shaogang sighed, "He had no choice. His eldest son has been frail since childhood, often fainting and requiring frequent hospital visits. As a result, he has accumulated a mountain of debt."
He glanced at the body lying not far away and said regretfully, "I can't even imagine what will happen to his family now."
Jiang Zhenghua nodded: "Who's in his family?"
Yang Shaogang said in a somewhat heavy tone, "I have a sixty-year-old mother who stays at home to take care of the children. My wife works in a textile factory. My eldest son is ten years old and is frail and sickly. My second son is eight years old and in elementary school, and my youngest daughter is only three years old."
Jiang Zhenghua sighed, "So, he really has a heavy burden on his shoulders. Why did he choose this path? He should have known it was dangerous here."
"He must have been in a hurry. He was saying yesterday that he was taking his son for a follow-up check-up today, and the cargo he was transporting wasn't heavy, so he probably took the risk of coming this way."
Yang Shaogang pointed to the iron shafts in the pile of parts and said, "This time we're transporting these things. There are four in total, weighing about 500 pounds, which isn't really heavy. Zhang Hegui told me that he was also planning to take this route."
Jiang Zhenghua nodded, then asked, "How often do you have your vehicles inspected?"
Yang Shaogang was taken aback when he heard Jiang Zhenghua's words: "According to the factory's regulations, an inspection must be carried out every time a long-distance trip is made or every week of operation."
Jiang Zhenghua noticed that his face looked somewhat unnatural.
What a fine example of following the rules...
He raised an eyebrow: "And how was it actually implemented?"
Seeing the hesitation on Yang Shaogang's face, Jin Hong walked over and said, "Master Yang, don't worry. We're just trying to understand the situation. We have many regulations, but some difficulties may arise in actual operation, and everyone will naturally be flexible in their implementation."
Cheng Mingli chimed in, "Old Yang, don't worry, we're just gathering information to help us determine the cause of the accident."
Yang Shaogang nodded and exhaled a long puff of smoke: "The actual implementation is not optimistic. As long as the vehicle doesn't break down, it's rarely inspected. Leader, it's not that we're lazy or unwilling to implement it, but there are genuine difficulties."
The others immediately understood his meaning and nodded slightly.
Yang Shaogang's voice carried a hint of melancholy: "To be honest, none of the vehicles we use now are in good working order. Take the one I drive, for example, it's a Dodge 51 truck made in the US. This model of truck is a military truck from the US during World War II. This one of mine was given to Chiang Kai-shek by the US in 1941 during the War of Resistance Against Japan to fight against the Japanese. The engine still has a plaque that says 'Aid to China.' This truck was captured by our troops during the Liaoshen Campaign. The comrades in the troops used it for a few years, and then in 1954, it was given to our factory, and that's how it ended up in my hands."
Jin Hong glanced at where the vehicle was parked and sighed, "This is truly a vehicle with a distinguished war record. It served our country during the War of Resistance against Japan, and the transport captain must have used it quite a bit later. Now that it's in our hands, it's probably been used even more."
Yang Shaogang took a puff of his cigarette and nodded: "That's right. The cylinder block is leaking oil, and the bottom plate drips black oil all year round. If it's parked for even a short time, a large patch will seep into the ground; the valve springs are broken, and we can't produce those right now, so I installed them backwards and will make do for now. The side panels of the truck bed are worn through, so I used scrap steel plates and miscellaneous wood from the factory to nail them together; if the gaps are too big, I stuff them with torn burlap sacks to keep out the dust; the door hinges are rusted shut, so I used wire to hold the switches open, and if they don't close properly, I tied a rope around them."
Yang Shaogang threw away his cigarette butt and stomped on it hard: "The leaf springs are fatigued and soft, and if you install even a little too much, the car body will tilt; the brake master cylinder is old and leaking pressure, so the brakes sometimes fail, and I have to rely on the handbrake and downshifting to hold it in place; the transfer case makes strange noises, the gears are worn, and I have to kick it to engage four-wheel drive."
Zhang Chongguang exclaimed, "Now that you mention it, I think everything on that car is working now, except for the horn."
Yang Shaogang was taken aback, then nodded emphatically: "What the comrade said is really accurate. The horn wire was old and broken. I taped it back on, but it still doesn't work. When I run into people, they either rev the engine or stick their heads out and shout."
"Ultimately, it's because our industrial foundation is too weak. But everything will get better. As long as we follow the old man's lead, we will eventually be able to develop."
Jiang Zhenghua nodded: "This label of poverty will eventually be removed. On July 13, 1956, didn't FAW in Changchun produce our first Jiefang truck? That ended the history of us not being able to manufacture cars. I believe that in the future there will be more car factories, and we will be able to drive our own trucks all over the country."
Yang Shaogang nodded emphatically: "I believe you. Our factory currently has one Jiefang CA10. To be honest, in terms of climbing ability, it's not as good as my current Dodge."
Zhang Chongguang asked doubtfully, "Really?"
"I'm not kidding you. We've tested it, and with the same weight of cargo, the Dodge climbs hills much better."
Yang Shaogang looked serious. He glanced at the group and explained, "The Dodge 51 is a four-wheel drive vehicle, while our Jiefang CA10 is a two-wheel drive vehicle, so its ability to climb mountain roads is slightly weaker."
Everyone suddenly realized.
Jin Hong sighed, "This is truly a veteran of World War II. It made contributions in the civil war, and after the founding of the People's Republic of China, it worked like a beast of burden, relying entirely on the workers' makeshift methods to survive. It's truly dilapidated, but it can really haul goods."
Yang Shaogang looked at Jiang Zhenghua: "Deputy Director Jiang, including this dilapidated truck that's been running for seventeen years, our machinery factory doesn't have many trucks in total. We need them for hauling coal, delivering goods, purchasing, you name it, we need trucks everywhere, there are just not enough. Our transport team is always rushing to complete our tasks, and as long as the trucks don't break down, we don't have time to stop and inspect them, we can only do some simple maintenance."
Jiang Zhenghua nodded emphatically: "I understand."
After Yang Shaogang finished speaking, he bent down and began to search inside.
Jiang Zhenghua thought for a moment, then turned and strode towards a spot not far away.
Fang Ya, who was examining the body, heard footsteps, turned around and saw him coming, then got up and went over to him.
She took off her gloves and removed her white cotton mask: "You've come to inquire about the situation, right?"
Seeing that she was covered in sweat, Jiang Zhenghua said to Liu Baojia, who was not far away, "Baojia, bring a pot of water."
Liu Baojia responded, "Yes."
Fang Ya wiped the sweat from her forehead: "Let me briefly tell you about the deceased's condition."
Jiang Zhenghua hurriedly took out his notebook and pen.
Fang Ya said in a deep voice: "The deceased was male, 1.72 meters tall, and physically strong. He had old injuries on his legs and arms, which should be cuts. The cause of death was a fall from a height, with his chest hitting the steering wheel. There was obvious collapse in his chest and obvious broken ribs; the ribs pierced his internal organs, causing massive internal bleeding; his spine was severely deformed and his head collapsed."
Jiang Zhenghua looked at the record, then looked up and asked, "Is he very strong? Is he malnourished?"
Fang Ya rolled her eyes at him: "You can't be a truck driver without some strength. Besides, who doesn't suffer from malnutrition these days?"
Jiang Zhenghua was taken aback.
This old truck has no power steering; you have to rely entirely on your arm strength to turn it.
He explained, "I mean, compared to the average person?"
Fang Ya glanced back and said, "He's better than the average worker."
She asked, puzzled, "Why do you ask that? He's a truck driver, isn't it normal that he's better off than the average worker?"
Jiang Zhenghua said, "He has an eldest son who has been chronically ill and is heavily in debt."
Fang Ya was taken aback and was about to speak.
Liu Baojia came over with a military water bottle: "Deputy Director, the water is here."
Jiang Zhenghua said, "Give this to Teacher Fang."
Liu Baojia stepped forward and handed over the water bottle: "Teacher Fang, have some water."
Fang Ya said to Jiang Zhenghua, "Thank you."
She then accepted it and said to Liu Baojia, "Thank you, Comrade Liu."
Jiang Zhenghua said to Fang Ya, "Teacher Fang, may I borrow your camera to get a certificate?"
Fang Ya nodded, then turned to her assistant and said, "Xiao Hui, give the camera to Deputy Director Jiang."
She turned around and asked, "Do you know how to use it? Do you want me to take a picture for you?"
Jiang Zhenghua asked, "What about your side..."
Fang Ya unscrewed the kettle lid: "That's all we can do here. The rest needs to be taken back for dissection and experiments to draw detailed conclusions."
Jiang Zhenghua nodded: "Then I'll trouble you to make another trip and help take some photos, especially of the vehicle's braking system."
Fang Ya took a few sips of cool boiled water and nodded: "I'll come over after I finish up here."
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